Apparatuses and methods that reduce cavitation in interaction chambers are described herein. In an embodiment, an interaction chamber for a fluid processor or fluid homogenizer includes an inlet chamber having an inlet hole and a bottom end, an outlet chamber having an outlet hole and a top end, a microchannel placing the inlet hole in fluid communication with the outlet hole, wherein an entrance to the microchannel from the inlet chamber is offset a distance from the bottom end, and at least one of: (i) a tapered fillet located on a side wall of the microchannel at the microchannel entrance; (ii) a side wall of the microchannel converging inwardly from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; (iii) a top wall and/or bottom wall of the microchannel angled from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber; and (iv) a top fillet that extends around a diameter of inlet chamber.

System, including apparatus and methods, for performing droplet-based assays. The system may comprise a droplet transporter configured to pick up droplets from each emulsion of an array of reacted emulsions and to drive flow of the droplets through a detection region. The system also may comprise a detector configured to collect data related to one or more analytes from individual droplets of the reacted emulsions as such individual droplets travel through the detection region. The system further may comprise a controller programmed to determine, based on the data collected, an aspect of the one or more analytes in one or more samples included in droplets of the emulsions.

The invention describes a method for the identification of compounds which bind to a target component of a biochemical system or modulate the activity of the target, comprising the steps of: a) compartmentalising the compounds into microcapsules together with the target, such that only a subset of the repertoire is represented in multiple copies in any one microcapsule; and b) identifying the compound which binds to or modulates the activity of the target; wherein at least one step is performed under microfluidic control. The invention enables the screening of large repertoires of molecules which can serve as leads for drug development.

The invention generally relates to microfluidic devices that include channels that are slidable relative to each other and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a first channel having an open end, and a second channel having an open end. The first and second channels are slidable relative to each other such that when the open end of the first channel and the open end of the second channel are aligned with each other, fluid flows from the first channel into the second channel.

The invention provides mechanical devices that can be used to combine reagents and discover their effects on living cells. A device of the invention holds liquids in open-ended channels and transfers liquids from one channel to another by bringing a second channel into proximity and alignment with an open end of a first channel. Channels of the device can include fluid partitions (e.g., water-oil-water emulsions) that include living cells. The device includes a mechanical system the operation of which causes a receiving channel to pass among supply channels, aligning with each in turn, to pick up chemicals from those channels and make new combinations within the receiving channel. The device then presents those new chemical combinations to the living cells within their respective partitions, thereby allowing for the determination of the effects of those combinations on living cells.

The present invention generally relates to double emulsion droplet compositions, polymer particles that can be formed from such double emulsion droplet compositions, and to methods and apparatuses for making such compositions and particles. A double emulsion generally describes larger droplets that contain smaller droplets therein. These double emulsion droplet compositions can be used to create a variety of materials including polymer particles and polymeric shells and are further useful for encapsulating a variety of species including catalyst compounds and pharmaceutical agents. The double emulsion droplet compositions disclosed herein are readily formed using planar droplet (digital) microfluidic devices without channels, and either air or an immiscible liquid as an ambient medium.

Various devices and methods covering a technology for combinatorial liquid handling. At least some example embodiments of the devices may include a plurality of liquid dispensers configured to dispense drops, wherein at least a carrier drop is dispensed and sequentially collides and merges with drops dispensed from a sub-plurality of liquid dispensers, so that liquids from the sub-plurality of liquid dispensers are located in the carrier drop during flight, and a support surface being positioned so that the carrier drop lands on the support surface.

Method of analysis. In the method, a microfluidic device defining a flow path extending from an inlet to an outlet may be selected. A sample-containing fluid may be introduced into the flow path via the inlet. Volumes of the sample-containing fluid may be isolated from one another on the flow path. A two-dimensional monolayer of the volumes may be imaged. The two-dimensional monolayer may be formed along the flow path between the inlet and the outlet.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing biopolymer particles, said method comprising a membrane emulsification of a dispersed phase into a continuous phase wherein the dispersed phase comprises the biopolymer in a solvent, and wherein passing the dispersed phase through the membrane forms an emulsion of the biopolymer in the continuous phase; and a phase inversion with an anti-solvent to form particles of the biopolymer; wherein prior to (b), the emulsion is cooled to a temperature, T1. Also provided are biopolymer particles obtained from the method.

A lipid nanoparticles manufacturing chip includes a mixer unit for forming a mixed solution by mixing a first raw material containing an active ingredient and a second raw material containing a lipid, a dilution unit that is connected to the mixer unit and dilutes the mixed solution using a diluent solution to make a diluted mixed solution, and a concentration unit connected to the dilution unit and for obtaining a concentrated solution by concentrating lipid nanoparticles (LNP) from the diluted mixed solution.